The Buffett Rule is named after American investor Warren Buffett, who publicly stated in early 2011 that he believed it was wrong that rich people, like himself, could pay less in federal taxes, as a portion of income, than the middle class, and voiced support for increased income taxes on the wealthy.

The Twentieth was the Century of the Welfare State. Governments the world over built and then continuously grew their domestic aid money delivery apparatuses. Tens of trillions of dollars were spent in attempts to raise poor people up and out.

Much of the planet was dominated by the Soviet Union – whose satellites and clients were just welfare states under the Red umbrella. Communism is the Welfare State in full bloom – and to say it doesn’t work is the century’s greatest understatement. One hundred million people died – and billions more lived nasty, brutish and short lives in abject desolation and destitution. More

Aesop was a Seventh Century, B.C. Greek philosopher – mere “storyteller” doesn’t do him justice. The best storytellers are philosophers – because they tap into truths of human nature. Aesop certainly did that.

His famous Fables revealed these truths through simple animal allegories. There are (at least) several that apply to the creatures in the world of politics. Of late one especially leaps to mind.

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion says, “Because if I do, I will die too.”

The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp “Why?”

Replies the scorpion: “Its my nature…”

Far too many government officials (and civilian Leftists) are Aesop scorpions. It’s in their nature to regulate. And regulate again. And then regulate some more. In Baby Boomer Radical parlance, they are willing – even eager – to destroy the village in order to save it. More

57 Senators and 152 House members…sign(ed) letters to Barack Obama Administration Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. In which they expressed concern about inexpensive Korean steel being in mass quantities imported here….

Why is the bipartisan contingent concerned about the cheap Korean steel dumping? American job loss.

“U.S. steel producers employ 8,000 workers across the country making OCTG. Each of these jobs supports seven additional jobs in the supply chain and the steel produced for the U.S. energy market accounts for approximately ten percent of domestic production.”

“As this case proceeds, we urge you to ensure that the Department’s investigation is objective and accurate and to closely verify the information submitted by the Korean producers. Strict and full enforcement of our trade laws is essential for the future of the U.S. steel industry, its workers, and steel communities throughout the country.”

Which is of course perfectly reasonable. If Korea isn’t doing what it said it would, there should be consequences and repercussions. As Mexico too is hopefully about to find out.

For the long run, we need to begin laying the groundwork for making these trade deals a whole lot freer – and fairer. Far less complicated – and thus much better. And thus easier with which to comply – and when necessary to enforce. More

The Barack Obama Administration has spent just about its entire tenure doing things it is not supposed to do.

The myriad executive branch Departments, Agencies, Commissions and Boards have been in omni-directional fashion vastly exceeding their authority – doing things that are clearly the Constitutional purview of (amongst other others) the legislative and judicial branches.

In so doing, these many Leviathan tentacles leave unattended the things they are actually supposed to do.

The examples of proactive overreaches and attending abrogations are nearly without limit.